Howdy ya’ll! It’s time for my NHL draft preview. I’ve carefully reviewed my prospects list and have come up with my draft list. I will be doing this in a three part series. This post will cover the top ten picks, along with a short preview on what I think may happen as far as deals on draft day. Let’s get started!

With the first overall pick in the draft the Oilers pick…
Taylor Hall, LW, Windsor (OHL)

Here’s why: Hall is a dynamic scorer with good vision and great shot. This kid is the real deal and the Oilers won’t think twice about taking Hall.

With the 2nd pick the Bruins select…
Tyler Seguin, C, Plymouth (OHL)

Here’s why: I think there will be a lot of pressure on the Bruins to trade this pick. I am sure they will be shopping the pick around on draft day but will end up keeping it in favor of the creative center. I think Seguin has the poise and ability to be a huge impact player for the Bruins next year. Boston fans should be very pleased with this pick. Personally, I would much rather have Seguin than Kessel, especially if Seguin lives up to his endless potential.

With the 3rd pick the Panthers select…
Cam Fowler, D, Windsor (OHL)

Here’s why: Florida’s power play is horrid. They need a puck moving defenseman like Fowler to energize their squad. Kulikov and Fowler on their blue line will really help the Panther fans forget Jay Bo.

Here’s why: He is a rock solid defenseman. The Jacket’s drafted Moore last year on defense and Gudbranson is his perfect counterpart on the blue line. Gubranson is Mr. Big Mean and Nasty. He would be a lovely fit for the Blue Jackets.

Here’s why: He is the best player available and he joins an already talented cupboard of blueline prospects that includes Calvin de Haan and Travis Hamonic. If Snow elects to trade down, I think he will target Brett Connolly.

With the 6th overall pick the Lightning select…
TRADE

Here’s why: If you look at Tampa’s cupboard, there is very little depth or quality with the exception of Carter Ashton. If rookie GM Steve Yyzerman and rookie Coach Guy Boucher aren’t really high on any prospect, I think they will elect to trade down in the first round. Personally, I hope they find a trading partner with Nashville in exchange for Grebeshkov and a later pick. The Bolts need a top four defenseman that can work the power play and Grebeshkov fits that bill. Other possible trading partners I could see stepping in include Atlanta, Minnesota, Ottawa, or even Dallas. But article is supposed to be about bout who I THINK they will take…

The Lightning select Brett Connolly, LW, Prince George (WHL)

While Connolly’s health might be a warning flag, he is one of the more dynamic forwards in this draft. He is a real question mark for me, but I think he will sneak his way somewhere into the top ten. This pick will tell us a lot about GM Yzerman and Boucher.

With the 7th pick of the draft the Hurricanes select…
Nino Neiderreiter, LW, Portland (WHL)

Here’s why: Size, hands, and speed. He would be a great addition for the Canes. He could be a future star with Eric Staal as his pivot. The Hurricanes and “El Nino” could be the perfect storm.

Here’s why: This kid has the best vision in the entire draft. While he may be on the small side, he has a lot of heart and talent to boot. Kane and Granlund could be dynamic for years to come if they were put on the same line. Granlund is the real deal.

Here’s why: This team desperately needs to score goals. Tarasenko is their man. The talented Russian is NHL ready and could make a huge splash if he stays committed to Minnesota.

With the 10th pick of the draft, the Rangers select…
Ryan Johansen, C, Portland (WHL)

Here’s why: Johansen has the smarts for the PK and the Power Play. He has a big body that still needs to bulk up a bit, but that is almost sure to happen before he gets to the NHL. Johansen possesses pretty good on ice vision and play making skills. He tallied 69 points this year in 71 games. The Rangers would love to have this guy in their prospect pool.

That concludes part one! Check back this weekend for part two of the three part series.

5 Comments

In response to “NHL Draft Preview 1-10”

I am a big Granlund fan already and this kid is going to make someone in the know very happy one day. Faceoff prowess especially.

It is interesting that you should have the Lightning selecting Connolly, as they have gone to the well in Prince George (WHL) for both Dana Tyrell and Vlad Mihalik before and part of the package for Dan Boyle a couple seasons ago was Ty Wishart, who is also a prospect of note. Connolly is a homegrown Cougar who has a ton of talent.

Tyrell is a legit 3rd line checker with offensive capabilities as well. It will definately be interesting to see who somes and goes during this draft for TBL.

Yzerman has the reigns and how they develop Alex Hutchings (led the Barrie Colts to a fabulous season) and Richard Panik will be telling projects right off the bat.

I think that you underestimate the goaltending situation as far as prospects go in Tampa Bay. Jaroslav Janus and Dustin Tokarski are both great talents in net.

Janus and Tokarski are good prospects; I must admit Tampa isn’t really my expertise so I will have to default to your knowledge of their goaltending prospects. All I know is their forward and their defensemen are questionable prospects.

Man, the Blue Jackets had better hope to hit a home run or two this draft. Ohio is proving to be a pretty cool hockey market, with all the youth programs and such. But they need to win. After a couple of promising seasons adn some follow-through prospects, they need the foundation to swim.

i agree when we win we have sold out games like 2 years ago when we make the playoffs. On to the draft hopfully we can get Erik Gudbranson would love to have him if we don’t get him would like to get Connolly he is a lw and the Jackets don’t have many winger prospects in there system most of our top prospects are d man we have only really 2 good winger prospects in maryov and filatov.

I personally think the Rangers would be better off finding a quality stay-at-home defenceman in the draft rather than going after a forward, simply because we have decent forward depth in the system… That could be done via a trade-down scenario, or potentially a trade-up. We really lack quality in terms of defensive defencemen, and it was glaringly obvious this past season. Realistically, this is a team that will only go as far as Henrik Lundqvist can take them, but he needs help keeping opposing players out of the prime scoring areas.